• Ep 23: The Battle of Great Bridge
    Jan 12 2026

    Dive into the Battle of Great Bridge and its significance in the American Revolutionary War. Host, Lisa Rowan, is joined by Richard Fisher, a volunteer with the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation.

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    26 mins
  • Ep. 22: The Burning of Norfolk
    Dec 15 2025

    Take a front-row seat to one of the most consequential moments of the American Revolution. Host Lisa Rowan and journalist Andrew Lawler revisit Norfolk’s dramatic winter of 1775–76, when Black soldiers fought for Lord Dunmore, Patriots dug in at Great Bridge, and Virginia’s only city became the battleground that pushed the colonies toward independence. From skirmishes on the Elizabeth River to the days-long burning that erased Norfolk from the map, this episode unpacks the clash, the politics, and the propaganda that helped set the stage for America’s break from Britain.

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    15 mins
  • Lord Dunmore's Emancipation Proclamation
    Nov 17 2025

    Host Lisa Rowan sits down with Virginia-born journalist Andrew Lawler to discuss Lord Dunmore's Emancipation Proclamation which offered freedom to some enslaved people... but there was a catch. Listen now to learn more.

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    15 mins
  • Western Virginia's Role in the Revolution
    Oct 13 2025

    Host Lisa Rowan sits down with local historian Eric Monday to explore western Virginia’s surprising role in the American Revolution. From frontier skirmishes to the communities that shaped the fight for independence, discover how the region’s people and places helped forge a new nation.

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    37 mins
  • Ep 19: Revolutionary Women
    Sep 15 2025

    The role of women changed in early American history, but what was the biggest change at our nation’s founding? Renowned historian, author and professor Rosemary Zagarri talks to Cardinal 250 host Dutchie Jessee about the pivotal role women played in the “social media” of their time.

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    25 mins
  • Ep 18: Burned Counties
    Aug 11 2025

    If you’re a Virginian, there’s a good chance you live in a burned county. That’s the term used when a city or county suffers significant losses of official records, especially as a result of military targeting. Join host Dutchie Jessee as she talks with Isle of Wight Museum Director Jennifer England about saving those records, and why they’re so valuable.

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    23 mins
  • Ep 17: America, Made in Virginia
    Jul 14 2025

    We’re a year away from the country’s 250th birthday, or semiquincentennial. What are some key moments for the head of Virginia’s 250 Commission, and what’s coming up in the next twelve months to mark this important date? Host Dutchie Jessee talks with Commission Director Cheryl Wilson about Virginia’s ongoing events as it prepares for the nation’s big birthday.

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    33 mins
  • Ep 16: Retro
    Jun 10 2025

    Cardinal News is a few years into our 250 project – the aim of which is to shine a light on lesser known Virginians who played a part in our nation’s birth. We look back at the history we knew and what we've learned through the project in this episode with Cardinal 250 editor Dwayne Yancey.

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    24 mins